Courses for 2023-24

WGST 150. Women in Movies. 3 Hours.

Through viewing popular Hollywood films, we will analyze femininity across the life span. Critical thinking and cultural analysis will be practiced as we study heroines, working girls, motherhood, brides, cheerleaders, and old women on screen.

WGST 170. Introduction to Women's and Gender Studies. 3 Hours.

The major contexts in which gender identities have been and are defined and of the relationships between these definitions and the roles and history of women and men in society and culture.

WGST 191. First-Year Seminar. 1-3 Hours.

Engages students in active learning strategies that enable effective transition to college life at WVU. Students will explore school, college and university programs, policies and services relevant to academic success. Provides active learning activities that enable effective transition to the academic environment. Students examine school, college and university programs, policies and services.

WGST 225. Women in Appalachia. 3 Hours.

Use variety of sources to explore how race, class, ethnicity, sex and gender impact lives of diverse Appalachian women, including portrayal of women, stereotypes, impact of stereotypes, and how women construct their own identities.

WGST 242. Women's Health and Fitness. 3 Hours.

In this applied class, students will be actively learning about college-age women's health and participating in fitness activities, as well as creating a personal plan to improve one's health.

WGST 260. Perspectives on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer Studies. 3 Hours.

Overview of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer studies. Examines the construction of gender, biological sex, sexual orientation, and gender identity, expression and performance related to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning, intersex, asexual, pansexual, and two-spirit identities. Also examines intersections with race, ethnicity, class, nation, culture, ability, and religion.

WGST 330. Feminist Theory. 3 Hours.

PR: WGST 200 with a minimum grade of C-. Explores current feminist theory through works by diverse scholars, focusing on questions of essentialism, difference, sexuality, bodies, language, power, economic and ecological justice, intersections of race, class and gender, and global social justice struggles.

WGST 340. Gender and Violence. 3 Hours.

Gender violence has implications for all members of society. This course will examine violence in the lives of women across the lifespan. Etiology, theories, effects, and prevention modalities will be evaluated.

WGST 360. Queer Theories. 3 Hours.

Provides a framework for understanding the history and contemporary applications of queer theories and interdisciplinary LGBTQ studies. Explores the relationship of queer theories to feminist theories through examining works by diverse scholars, focusing on questions of identities, bodies, policies, institutions, and popular and visual cultures.

WGST 448. Sexuality in American Culture. 3 Hours.

Explores changes in sexuality in the United States from the seventeenth century to the present, examining social and cultural struggles and debates over the meaning of sexuality and sexual orientation in American society.

WGST 393C. Special Topics: Intersectional Perspectives on Constructing Criminality 

The course will problematize the category of “the criminal” and historicize how this category has legitimized structural inequalities and systemic violence. These issues cannot be addressed through participating in the “criminal/non-criminal” constructed binary and instead demands other strategies beyond “criminal justice reform.” This class will show how criminalization is rooted in dynamics of racism, patriarchy, capitalism, and colonialism.

WGST 449. Women's Movements Since 1960. 3 Hours.

Comparison of U.S. Second wave and Third Wave feminisms; validity of the concepts of waves of feminism; and impact of race, class, sexual orientation, on perspectives on women's status.

WGST 484. Seminar: Capstone. 3 Hours.

PR: Consent. Required of all women's studies students. Students will broaden their theoretical definitions of feminism and women's studies to include non-western models and solutions, pairing this study with a local service project informed by global activists.

WGST 595. Independent Study. 1-9 Hours.

Faculty supervised study of topics not available through regular course offerings.

WGST 696. Graduate Seminar. 1-3 Hours.

PR: Consent. Series of meetings that may include research presentations by students, faculty, or visitors; discussions of professional issues or current literature; or other varying topics.

Spring 2024

WGST 150. Women in Movies. 3 Hours.

Through viewing popular Hollywood films, we will analyze femininity across the life span. Critical thinking and cultural analysis will be practiced as we study heroines, working girls, motherhood, brides, cheerleaders, and old women on screen.

WGST 170. Introduction to Women's and Gender Studies. 3 Hours.

The major contexts in which gender identities have been and are defined and of the relationships between these definitions and the roles and history of women and men in society and culture.

WGST 200. Feminist Histories and Practices. 3 Hours.

Definitions, implications and origins of feminism. Explores various histories and forms of feminist organizing, how intersectionality shapes/changes feminism, how global/historical/political locations inform feminism, and how feminist efforts to create change have included critically engaging with the politics of knowledge production.

WGST 260. Perspectives on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer Studies. 3 Hours.

Overview of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer studies. Examines the construction of gender, biological sex, sexual orientation, and gender identity, expression and performance related to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning, intersex, asexual, pansexual, and two-spirit identities. Also examines intersections with race, ethnicity, class, nation, culture, ability, and religion.

WGST 330. Feminist Theory. 3 Hours.

PR or CONC: WGST 200 or WGST 260 with a minimum grade of C-. Explores current feminist theory through works by diverse scholars, focusing on questions of essentialism, difference, sexuality, bodies, language, power, economic and ecological justice, intersections of race, class and gender, and global social justice struggles.

WGST 345. Women in International Development. 3 Hours.

Examines cultural diversities in the definition of women's roles and status; investigates women's access to education, health, income, credit and technology; and studies women's contributions in third world development.

WGST 360. Queer Theories. 3 Hours.

PR or CONC: WGST 200 or WGST 260 with a minimum grade of C-. Provides a framework for understanding the history and contemporary applications of queer theories and interdisciplinary LGBTQ studies. Explores the relationship of queer theories to feminist theories through examining works by diverse scholars, focusing on questions of identities, bodies, policies, institutions, and popular and visual cultures.